Schools

[The following minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-09-11 --webmaster]

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Monday August 31, 2009

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order in the Selectmen’s office at 6:10 p.m. by Chairman, Karen Henderson. Committee members present included Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji, Mr. Steve Doret, and Mr. Craig Harris. Administrators present included Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Marianne O’Connor; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Hendricks.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

[click "READ MORE..." below to view the entire minutes -- webmaster]

Here's a result of a query for "open", in our attempt to locate the open house info for this fall:

September 2009 Open House Dates

Wed 9		6:30 pm - 9:00 pm		High School Open House
Thurs 10		6:00 pm - 8:00 pm		Scholastic Book Fair at Armstrong (during Open House)
		6:30 pm - 7:30 pm		Open House at Armstrong, Fales & Hastings
Thurs 17		6:30 pm - 9:00 pm		Open House at Gibbons Middle School
Tues 22		6:30 pm - 7:30 pm		Grade 4 Open House at Mill Pond
Wed 23		6:30 pm - 7:30 pm		Grade 5 Open House at Mill Pond
Thurs 24		6:30 pm - 7:30 pm		Grade 6 Open House at Mill Pond

[The following minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-09-05 --webmaster]

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Thursday August 20, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order at 5:13 p.m. by Chairman Mrs. Karen Henderson, members present included Mr. Stephen Doret, Mr. Craig Harris, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji and Mr. Bruce Tretter. Administrators present included Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Marianne O’Connor, and Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel P. Hendricks.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

[click "READ MORE..." below to view the entire minutes -- webmaster]

These minutes fetched from the district site on 2009-09-05

WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

MINUTES

Wednesday June 17, 2009

The Westborough School Committee meeting was called to order in the Selectmen’s office at 6:05 p.m by Chairman, Karen Henderson. Committee members present included Mr. Bruce Tretter, Mrs. Ilyse Levine-Kanji and Mr. Craig Harris. Administrators present included Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Anne Towle; Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Marianne O’Connor; Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Daniel Hendricks, and the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Ms. Maureen Ferguson.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

MINUTES

Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mrs. Levine-Kanji, the Committee voted 4-0 in favor of approving the minutes of June 3, 2009. Upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 4-0 in favor of approving the minutes of June 8, 2009.

Paul McNulty of the Board of Health gave an overview of the H1N1 flu virus which has been found in 74 countries. Westborough has two documented cases. If children are suffering from respiratory symptoms, they are required by the Department of Public Health to stay out of school seven days from the onset. Mr. McNulty said if the virus reoccurs in the fall, there will be a vaccine available which may be dispensed to all children at the high school site

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Towle introduced members of the High School Girls Lacrosse Team and congratulated them for having won the MIAA Central District Championship. Accompanying Coach Colleen Debish were tri-captains, Stephanie Flood, Hannah Srebnik, and Kayla Volpe.

Girls’ Golf team captains, Ruthie Bryant, Kate Patrick and Allie Lonstein as well as coach, Sandy Robichaud, were congratulated for their undefeated season and 2^nd place in the MIAA State Championships. Byron Jones won the MIAA State Championship in the one mile. He ran it in 4.14.35.

Eagle Scout, Russell Miller, was recognized for his achievement. Russell’s project was work performed on part of the Charm Bracelet, a total of 120 man hours.

Cliff Watts, retiring member of the Finance Committee, was recognized with a plaque for his efforts as liaison to the School Committee.

Superintendent Towle also recognized Cheryl Bertone, a paraprofessional at the high school, upon retirement after twelve years in the district.

Yearbook editors, Jacob Weinstein and Danielle Ma, presented members of the Committee with copies of this year’s yearbook. They were most proud that the book is totally in color.

Committee members were given a copy of the Assabet Collaborative Vocational brochure.

Accolades were extended to all those who made the Gibbons School trip to Washington, D.C. such a success. Principal, Dr. David Fredette, was pleased with the positive comments from hotel and site staffs on the conduct and behavior of the students.

WHS junior, Graham Allen, won first place in the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education’s composition contest. “Work in Progress” was the winner for the small ensemble category. Senior, Justin Demichele received the second place award for his composition, ”Hurry Up and Sync” in the small ensemble category. Judges from the New England Conservatory and Boston University critiqued their work.

School Committee Meeting 2.

June 17, 2009

COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND REPORTS

Mr. Tretter reported he and Mrs. Henderson attended the sixth grade United Nations Summit at the Mill Pond School. It was an outstanding program. Mrs. Levine-Kanji noted the Community Education program is still available for the summer. Mr. Harris suggested checking the school district web site for information on the state finances. A Connect Ed message will be sent to the staff when the state budget is finalized.

Mrs. Henderson stated the Joint Committee of Education is reviewing a bill that would mandate sterilizing musical instruments. It could result in districts paying between $6000 - $20,000 for this process. Music educators are strongly opposed to the bill.

SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES

Mr. Hendricks recommended an increase in prices in the range of $.10 - $.15 in the a la carte menu items for next year.

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion to accept the recommendation for an increase. Mr. Harris seconded the motion and the Committee voted 4-0 in favor.

BUDGET REDUCTION

In order to reduce the budget by $25,000, the Superintendent recommends a reduction in the paraprofessionals from the preschool program at the Hastings School. The reduction would include one full time para as well as a .9 reduction of five positions. This will result in no paras on Friday afternoons when there are no children in the program. A reduction of .4 SPED paras at the Fales School will reduce the hours from 8:30 – 3:00 p.m. to 10:15-2:15 p.m.

Committee members discussed reductions in the custodians or maintenance areas. Mr. Hendricks pointed out the department has already taken reductions and further reductions would severely impact the ability to maintain the buildings Mrs. Levine-Kanji strongly supported finding other areas to reduce rather than the para positions.

MOTION

Mr. Tretter made a motion to accept the administration’s recommendation regarding the budget reductions. Mr. Harris seconded the motion. The Committee voted 3-1 in favor of the motion with Mrs. Levine-Kanji voting in the negative.

Mrs. Henderson requested the administration prepare a ranking order of restorations to the budget in the event the state votes additional funding in its final budget. She also reported MASC will be hosting a workshop on “How to Manage a Budget” and asked if anyone has a preference on presenters at the MASC Conference. Also of interest to Committee members will be a meeting hosted by Senator Jamie Eldredge June 23 in Sudbury.

A request to inform the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager of the possible layoffs in the school department was made by Mrs. Henderson with the caveat that some may be brought back.

POLICY SECTION J AND L

The Committee was in receipt of Policies J and L which have been reviewed by MASC and the Policy Sub Committee. The Committee will vote on these policies at it next scheduled meeting. It is hoped the last section of the Policy Manual will be completed by the end of September.

SUMMER CURRICULUM WRITING

The Committee was in receipt of a copy of the Summer Curriculum Writing program which is approximately half of what is usually recommended. The program is K-12 inclusive and is predicated on funding from the Professional Development budget.

School Committee Meeting 3.

June 17, 2009

Mrs. O’Connor informed the Committee the kindergarten assignments have been completed. There are seven waitlisted students for the Armstrong full day program which most likely will be accommodated. Two hundred sixty-nine students are registered; one hundred ninety-two are registered for full day kindergarten.

MOTION

At 7:19 p.m. upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mr. Harris, the Committee voted 4-0 in favor by roll call vote to enter Executive Session under Chapter 39, Section 23B, sub paragraph (3) to discuss contract negotiations. The Committee took a short break.

The Committee returned to Open Session at 8:19 p.m.

The Committee signed bills and at 8:20 p.m. upon a motion by Mr. Tretter, seconded by Mrs. Levine-Kanji, the Committee voted unanimously to adjourn.

Respectfully submitted

Ilyse Levine-Kanji

Secretary

These minutes are as recorded by the secretary to the school committee and do not become an official part of the record until so noted in a subsequent record.